Ep 14: Building the Backbone: Data Harmonization for Agentic AI in CPG Supply Chains

The technology question is settled. AI agents now sit on top of the data, and work that once took days takes minutes. The harder question is what that means for the marketing organization itself.In this episode of the Evolve Podcast, Ryan Serpan, Head of CX Practice at Blend, is joined by Ajinkya “Jinx” Joglekar, Chief Marketing Officer at Optimum. They unpack why most companies are data rich but almost none are activation rich, why AI only pays off when you redesign the “factory floor” of your org, and why the LLMs don’t care about your org chart.More episodes at https://blend360.com/podcastFollow Jinx’s podcast, The Art of Commerce: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-art-of-commerce-podcast/0:00 Intro1:43 Jinx’s role at Optimum6:27 Data rich, insight rich, activation rich12:22 Separating purpose from task19:11 Redesign the factory floor22:16 The LLMs don’t care about your org chart23:39 Vibe coding and agents28:21 Rapid fire33:12 Wrap-up and The Art of Commerce

What does it take to move from supply chain visibility to decision-making at speed?In Episode 14 of Evolve, Devang Pandya, Vice President of Cloud, Data & AI Solutions and Global Head of Snowflake Practice at Blend360, sits down with Freddy Guard, Global Vertical Lead for Consumer Goods at Snowflake, to unpack one of the most important foundations of modern CPG transformation: data harmonization.The conversation explores why many supply chain organizations are still navigating data spread across numerous systems, functions, and definitions, and why simply adding another dashboard does not solve the underlying challenge. Devang and Freddy discuss how a connected, governed, and harmonized data foundation can help teams move faster, create consistency across the business, and turn information into action rather than another layer of reporting.They also look ahead to the role of AI and agentic workflows in the CPG supply chain. The message is clear: organizations cannot realize the full value of AI without trusted, aligned data underneath it. For leaders focused on supply chain transformation, data modernization, analytics, or AI adoption, this episode offers a practical view of what needs to come first and how the right foundation can help turn supply chain data into a competitive advantage.

AI is reshaping marketing faster than most organizations can operationalize it.Ahead of #PegaWorld 2026, we sat down with Greg DeMelo (CTO, Pegasystems), Ryan Serpan, and Steve Ash for a new episode of the *Evolve Podcast* exploring one of the biggest questions facing enterprise leaders right now:What comes after SaaS? This conversation goes beyond the hype around “agentic AI” and “SaaSmageddon” to focus on what actually matters for marketing and CX leaders:→ Why personalization has remained so difficult at scale→ How AI is changing the role of marketing platforms→ What an agentic marketing operating model could look like→ Why orchestration — not replacement — may define the next era of enterprise transformation→ How leaders should think about AI, decisioning, and operational execution moving forwardThese are the same conversations taking center stage at PegaWorld this year as organizations move from AI experimentation to real operational impact.If you're attending PegaWorld in Las Vegas, this episode is a great preview of the discussions shaping the future of AI-led customer engagement.Tune in now to listen to: 🎙️ *The Agentic Marketing OS: What Comes After SaaS?* goes live next week.#PegaWorld #AI #AgenticAI #MarketingTransformation #CustomerExperience #Decisioning #Martech #Personalization #EnterpriseAI #Blend360 #Pega

In this energizing episode of the Evolve Podcast, Blend leaders sit down with Janine Flaccavento, SVP Retail Media Americas at Criteo, to unpack how AI, retail intelligence, and commerce media are fundamentally reshaping the customer journey. From the rise of agentic commerce and LLM-powered product discovery to the future of first-party data and personalization, the conversation explores what brands and retailers must do now to stay competitive in an AI-first marketplace. Packed with practical insights, bold predictions, and real-world examples, this episode offers a front-row seat to the next era of commerce innovation.

In Episode 11 of Evolve, Alex Sion sits down with Brett King and Jesse Fagan to explore how AI-powered simulations and synthetic personas are changing the way organizations test ideas, understand customers, and bring products to market. From flight simulators to digital twins to LLM-driven audience research, this episode examines why simulation is becoming a core capability for modern enterprises.

In this episode of the Evolve Blend podcast, Caroline Caldwell sits down with Erik Wischhusen, Steven Tom, and Celia Wanderley to unpack how AI is reshaping the skills, teams, and operating models needed to move from demo to production. The conversation explores agentic engineering, the shift from coder to builder, and why the future belongs to organizations that can combine speed, trust, and scalable human and AI collaboration.

In this episode of Evolve, Adam sits down with Maggie to uncover how Blend is redefining what partnership really means in the age of AI. They dive into the realities of transformation and how co-creation turns big ideas into measurable results. Maggie shares stories from the frontlines of working with Fortune 1000 clients, the art of blending deep expertise with innovation, and why “we blend in so you stand out” isn’t just a tagline, it’s a mindset. From hyperscalers to high fives, this conversation is a fast-paced look at how culture, technology, and purpose come together to drive real change.

In this episode of Evolve, Alex and Rob tackle the AI transformation battle reshaping financial services. Rob introduces his “mountains vs. fields” metaphor to explain why legacy banks, though rich in customers, brand trust, and resources, must balance their scale and stability with the need for speed. Legacy banks sometimes struggle under decades of tech debt and rigid processes, while other players move fast with modern tools. They explore how true philosophical alignment only becomes clear under pressure, when existing business units resist change. Rob argues that transformation requires radical structural shifts: dedicated teams empowered to make decisions and move fast without waiting for cross-department approvals. Looking ahead, they envision a future where speed defines winners as financial products evolve into holistic customer relationships.

0:10: Intro0:33: What is going on in the world of AI?1:14: How does AI fit in an organization? 2:28: What is the path toward fully autonomous AI?5:41: Walk us through a recent case study that broadly used AI, including generative AI.11:06: What is Blend X, and what inspired its creation?12:28: Can you tell us more about the team behind the project?In this episode of Evolve, Adam and Rob navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of AI, cutting through buzzwords to reveal what agentic and autonomous AI systems actually mean in practice. They challenge the conventional wisdom of waiting for perfect data and explore how organizations can use AI to prepare their data instead. Rob shares an impactful story of how a client transformed a slow, expensive data harmonization process into something dramatically faster and more accurate. From Blend X to building teams that can keep pace with change that moves faster than the news cycle, this conversation unpacks what it takes to build in an era where the rules are being rewritten in real time. 

0:00: Intro0:15: Role of the investment advisor in the world of AI2:00: Differentiating Asset Managers in the AI Era4:36: AI’s Impact on opening the mass affluent market to scaled wealth management5:40: Rethinking advisory services for the mass affluent market6:19: Future of Financial Services In 5 years  Explore how AI is revolutionizing wealth management with our expert panel featuring: Alex Sion from Blend, former CPO Kabir Sethi, and former CTO Donie Lochan. Discover how AI is democratizing access to previously exclusive investments and expanding financial tools to a wider audience than ever before.  Bottom Line: In five years, financial services will be more widely accessible and tailored than ever before, opening up new opportunities for people across the financial spectrum.